Seed-potato cutter



Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,681 w. L PIGG SEED PoTATo GTTER Filed Feb. 5', 1927 2 lSheets-Sheetl l ttorngy 1,681 ,681 W. H. PIGG SEED PoTATo GUTTER Aug. 21, 192s.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1927 Inventor Y Attorney Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES SEED-Postare CUTTER.

Application filed February 5, 1927.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in seed potato cutters, and has for its primary object to provide a novel, simple, andl eilicient device for use in the cutting of seed potatoes, the device being so Vconstructed as to permit of the rapid and smooth cutting of the potatoes in substantially uniformly shaped cubes so that they ina-y be properly planted by reason oit conm ventionally constructed planting inachines.

A further and important object is to provide a device of this character including a cutter unit together with nieans for forcing a single potato through the unit, the invention lurther comprising ine'ans for feeding a single potato to the' cutter every time the pressing means is raised, and this regardless oi the rapidity oi' operation of the device. y Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same comprising the novel forni, coinbination, and arrangement `of parts hereinafter more fully described, lshown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In vthe drawings wherein like reference kcharacters, indicate corresponding parts of the invention throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side eleva-tion of a seed potato cutter constructed in accordance with the present invention. k Figure 2 is a top plan vview thereof.`

I Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the broken line 8--3 of Figure 1. y y s Figure e is an enlarged fragmentary horiv zontal section through the cutting unit and the potato feeding device therefor.

Figure 5 is aI perspective of the cutting unit, and y .Figure 6 is a perspective of the pressing unit for forcing the `potatoes through the cutting unit'. y s

Now having particular. reference to the drawings, iny novelcutter consists of a relatively narrow table board 5 supported yat its forward end by outwardly diverging legs 6-,6 and at its rear end by 'an inclined leg 7, the upperend of which 'terminates considerably above the top of the'board 5 as in Figure 1. intermediate the ends of the board 5 the same is formed with a circular opening 8 within the upper edge of which are formed tour equally spaced slots 9. Ar-

ranged dependently through this opening 8 is a cutter .unit that consists of a pair oit V shaped cutter blades 10 10 that are ar- Serial No. 166,186.v

apiees and that are formed atkthe upper ends oi' theirlegs withlaterally Youtwardly directed 'lugs 11 for fitting withinI the `slots 9 ofj said opening 8 fory maintaining the ranged in interlockingL engageinentfat their blades at direct rightv angles with respect to n each other and as clearly indicated inthe top plan View of Figure 2, `and also yin the perspective view, Figure 5. 1 f is clearly "disclosed in this latter" inentioned iigure., the inner edges ofthese blades are sharpened for :facilitating thel proper cut" ting or a potato as the saine 1s forced therethrough in a `nianner hereinafterniore i'ully described.v f

Pivotally secured to the f-Olvil'd'ffii-nd` of the board 5 as at 12 is the down-turned end of a relatively elongated arrn 13 to the inner end otwhich is `rigidly secured a depending piungerllforined at its lower end with a pair of. 'longitudinal 'cross' slots 15-415,.the

length of the arm `1.3 being suchfthatwhen i y the saine is swung downwardly inthe direction of the arrow in Figure 1, said plunger will pass through the opening for `forcina potato resting upon the blades u throng the blades, the cross slots 15515 beingpro ided for the purposefof receiving the blades in order that the lunger may pass therebee yond for obvious y forcing they four parts oi the out blades.

potato entirely through the At the' frontofthe blade carrying lopen.` s,

the shaft will cause *the pivotal niovement of the arm 13 vso asE tojr'nove the plunger 14 into and out of engagement with the"y cutting blades 10-10. l Supported at one end by the upper end of the inclined leg 7 of the table board 5v is` an inclined potato hopper 20 also supported at its lower front end by a bracket 21 secured to the board 5 and the bottom of said hopper. The front end of said hopper 20 at the bottom wall thereof is formed with a discharge opening 22 in ycommunication with and below` which is a semi-circular chute 23. Arranged within the hopper 20 Vwith ythe endinvie'vv'` that the rotationof` a combined potato 'stop and feeding member at opposite sides of the opening 22 are 27. One end of the shaft 2G carrying said member 27 is provided with a crank 28,

Fig. f1 while interconnecting this crank and the plunger carrying arm 13k is a linlrbar 29 for the purpose `of-moving` the shafty 26 to-L getherrwitli the member 27 in reverse direction simultaneously with the up and down movement of the aiin 13.

Y l4`into said opening. v I

For preventing any liability'` of the po-` The member 27 isin the forni of a metallic platecso bent as to provide at one sideof the shaft 26 a curved head 80, and atfthe oppof site side of said shaft, a plano plate 31 at direct right angles to theportion of the head adjacent to said shaft26l Whenjin the full line position of Figure 4 the potatoes within the chute 23 will be held from passing into the cut-ter carrying opening 8'of the table board '5, The connection between the member 27 and arm 13 is the full line that when the member-27 is in such position the plunger 14 is'within the opening 8 and in the act of forcing a potato through the blades However, simultaneously with the raising of the plunger 14 the member 27 will be thrown into tliedotted line position of Figure 4 so asto permit one of the potatoes to roll over the head 30 and be caught by the plate 31. As soon'as the member 27 is moved to its full line position in Figure 4 the potato that has been caught by the plate r31 will be disl charged into the openingB to restuponfthe blade so that the same will be forcedv there-` through atV ther next movement of the plunger tato'es rolling over the opening 8 therefisarranged tlierearound a collar 32open at its innerside Vso as not to interfere withr the` movement of the feeding kand delivering memberA 27a`4 and' described the invention as consisting of certain detailstructural elements it is nevertheless to be understood that some changes may be made therein without effecting the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what j I claim is ,V n,

1. rBhe. combination in a potato cutter, of a table board having a vertical opening therein, cuttiiig'ineans in saidjopc'ning, 'an inclinedchute with its lower discharge end spaced above and to oneside of said opeiii v l n and arranged between said lower end of the chute and saidV opening, a transverse shaft including a loop shaped portion at one side spaced guide wings disposed vertically y of said shaft and movable betweensaid wings above and belowtlie lower end of tliechute and lalso including a plate-like portion adapted in its 'n upperr .position to check potatoes and in its lower position to shoot la potato to said opening,

2. The combination in a `potato cutter, of

a tableboardy having a. vertical opening therein, cutting nieansin said opening, an inclined chute with its lower discharge end spaced above andl to one side of said opening, spaced verticallyv disposed sidev wings between saidlowerend of the chute and said opening, a transverse shaft jouinaled iii said n side wings, a feed control member including a loop'shaped portion at one side of saidi past theblades of the cutter unit, and a con` nection between said ymovable meansl andY said shaftfor the turning of the latter.

Intestimony whereof I atlix my signature,

wniinroiv ries. 

